Funeral held for firefighter Robbie Miller

Staff photos by Tom Kelly IV
Pallbearers carry the yellow casket of Robert “Robbie” Miller into the cemetery for burial as firefighters from across Chester County give a final salute. Funeral Services were held Saturday for Miller, 27 of West Bradford. Miller was captain with the West Bradford Fire Company, a trustee at the Good Will Fire Company of West Chester and a member of the East Brandywine Fire Company. He was an avid motorcycle rider, and hundreds of people turned out to show their final respects to him, and to his family. The funeral took place at Good Will Fire Company. The burial took place at Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square.

WEST CHESTER — The leadership, warmth and smile of volunteer firefighter Robert “Robbie” Miller was remembered Saturday at his funeral service after his untimely death from a vehicular crash.

Miller, 27, served as a captain and training officer with the West Bradford Fire Company, and was a member of the Good Will and East Brandywine fire companies as well.

“Robbie was so encouraging. He was an amazing person and there’s no way to describe that,” said Chief Jack Law of West Bradford Fire Department at a service in the garage bays of the Good Will company. “I’m sure he’s touched all of you the way he has touched me and my family.”

Miller died early morning on May 2 at the Paoli Memorial Hospital after a motor accident occurred the night before at about 8:25 p.m. His motorcycle collided with a car on Strasburg Road just east of Lucky Hill Road.

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Fire Chief Jon Stafford of Good Will said Miller was a leader who had “strong skills of a firefighter earning respect” from other firefighters. Miller was a trustee for the last three years at Good Will.

Due to Miller’s attributes, Chief John Edwards of East Brandywine said Miller created a legacy in his life without even thinking about it. He just did it.

In Miller’s honor, many people wore yellow clothes to his service. It was his signature color, they said. Others at the service said if Miller was there with them, he would be smiling.

“If you want to pay tribute to Robbie, then let’s smile a little more. Make someone laugh. Make someone feel good about themselves. And live life to the fullest,” Edwards said.

Members at the service started to cry more with that.

Pennsylvania State Trooper Lori Edgar, a friend for 11 years, described Miller as reliable, generous, caring, strong, dependable and loving. “His words of encouragement will always stick with me,” she said.

“He will truly be missed. We’re going to miss seeing him around the station,” said Mike Cotter, past chief of Good Will.

Cotter recalled Miller’s great work ethic and said he was someone who could “always light up a room” with his smile.

“His parents should be proud of raising a great kid,” Cotter said.

Firefighters thanked Miller’s parents for him being a part of their family at the three companies he served.

“He was a good kid, do anything for you. He was a parents dream, he was polite and outgoing. I don’t even know how to explain it,” said Andrew Rook, 24, of Phoenixville. “He always had a smile on his face.”

Many said Miller’s impact was a result of his willingness to help.

“Robbie is that rare guy. He’s the guy that dropped anything in a moment to help friends, family or just anyone,” Leslie Ortiz said. “He was that rare breed of a human being that you don’t see.”

Brian Kilgarit, 30, of Downingtown, agreed with his friend as “no matter it was in life, he made you better at it, whether it was riding a motorcycle ... or as a person.”

Jon Kromer, a 26-year-old Wagontown firefighter, organized a motorcycle memorial ride on May 6 in honor of Miller.

“It blew me away with how many bikes showed up,” Kromer said. “It’s unbelievable the impact one guy can have on a county.”

Kromer heard more than 600 motorcyclists rode for Miller, who he said was an all-around good guy who would do anything to help someone else.